This star has topped our tree for 24 years. This year of all years the star refused to light up, go figure. Our $10 star had a good run. I remember shopping for this star with my mom after she saw our star-less tree. A tree without a topper was unacceptable to my mom. She…
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This shovel was more than a shovel
My husband decided to re-organize our garage. An area I like to think of as my husband’s responsibility. He is the main user of the stuff as well as a SAVER with a capital “S.” Me, I’m a tosser. For example, I don’t save short bits of rope, just in case. Nor do I…
My client’s bed wasn’t sleeping in her bed
Her bed was completely buried beneath clutter. My client was dealing with physical and emotional challenges besides an overwhelming amount of bedroom clutter. She couldn’t sleep in her bedroom because clutter had completely taken over the room (I’ve seen this situation countless times; I couldn’t wait to help). It had become an area to stash…
Who hasn’t decluttered by accident?
Those moments of unplanned, spontaneous decluttering can be very productive. You had no intention of decluttering but there you are sorting and discarding by happenstance (I’ve always wanted to use that word). I’ve had this happen in my garden when I spot a weed while admiring a bloom. Thirty minutes later I’ll notice I…
My grief story. Tips for downsizing after a loss.
I felt anxious and apprehensive about picking up my dad’s cremains. Would I be sad and cry once they placed his container in my arms? Should I accept my husband’s offer to pick them up or have him accompany me? In the end, I decided I’d do it after a client appointment since she lived…
Try this if you need to get rid of items quickly
Sometimes a move to a different home is planned, other times it’s due to a crisis. My parents experienced both situations and moved 3 times in the last 9 years. Each move required downsizing because of space constraints. Fortunately, they’d downsized for decades and didn’t hang onto things that no longer served them. They continued…
My dad’s wait is over
His 5-year wait ended. Ever since my mom passed, dad envisioned once again being with his bride of 64 years. That long-awaited day arrived for him on December 29, 2019, with his passing. His kids and grandkids drove and flew into Madison to love on him during his last days. • We held his…
Prepare for an exceptional morning–free checklist
I’m not a morning person. How about you? Do you start the day off feeling frazzled before your body is even vertical? I have my dad to thank for showing me the power of preparing for the next day by doing as much as possible the night before. He really hated mornings. His eyes were…
An essential checklist to prevent clutter and save money.
We all buy stuff, myself included, thinking….. That’s CUTE, I need it! I love her outfit, I want one just like it. It’s on sale, I gotta buy it now. I’m sad, worried, anxious so buying this thing will make me feel better. Oh my gosh, that gadget is just what I need. It’s the…
Try this if you hate sorting papers, decluttering, and making decisions
I hate this! {declared my client} Excuse me? This is NOT something I want to hear while organizing with a client. I saw she was overwhelmed, annoyed and frustrated about the boxes of memorabilia, mostly papers, we discovered. It felt like an impossible feat for her to sort it all out. She wanted to…
Organizing is emotional
I noticed there was a change of plans when my client met me at her door with two outdoor seat cushions and a cup of coffee in her hand. She needed time to enjoy the beautiful morning and chat for a bit. I realized organizing was gonna have to wait. Doing nothing is a challenge for…
Buying it, even when you like it, might not be the best decision
I was A F R A I D of this bike but I accepted my friend’s invitation to try it anyway. It’s not an ordinary bike, my friend owns an e-bike (electric). A bike with a throttle among other powerful features which scared me a bit. No one has ever called me a thrill-seeking daredevil.…
Are you ready for overnight guests?
She had a sofa for a guest to sleep on but let’s just say the guest room was a bit neglected. Here’s the thing…. guests were due to arrive and she was paralyzed by overwhelm. She was feeling the external pressure to transform that space. I was thrilled she reached out for my help clearing…